The Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro is set to take place on Achill Island, Ireland, between 19 and 28 October 2012. The competition is part of the Kite Surf Pro (KSP) world championship tour in the wave discipline.

It is the first time that such a competition has taken place in Ireland and will see international competitors take on the famous west coast wind and waves, and world-renowned surf conditions.

Kristin Boese, nine time kiteboarding world champion, and KSP tour manager and president, stated, “We chose the west of Ireland for this leg because it’s so well known for great waves. After Ireland, we go to Maui where the world champion will be crowned.”

“I’ve kite surfed on the southwest coast of Ireland before. It’s beautiful. If I hadn’t been to Ireland five years ago and fallen in love with the country so much, we probably wouldn’t have considered it for the tour. Obviously it’s a colder destination than the others and it can rain quite a bit but we just know what amazing landscapes and nature Ireland has to offer and how special it really is,”

Organised by Freeride Ireland and PureMagic Watersports, competition could take place at any time between 19 and 28 October 2012. Organisers will wait for optimal sea and weather conditions.

The media exposure for Ireland’s west coast will be massive. KSP is broadcast around the world to 80+million viewers and can also be viewed live during the 10-day event.